James Hildreth produced an innings of determination and class on the second day of this match. Every century stands out in some ways but in the last three seasons Hildreth has produced three innings that have made a particular mark. At least, this century, alongside that of Matt Renshaw in the first innings, will leave a mark if Somerset win this first match of the season. They have not achieved that feat since Vernon Philander and George Dockrell cut through Middlesex in the first match of 2012.

In the last match of each of the last two seasons Hildreth produced two of the all-time great Somerset innings. Against Nottinghamshire in 2016, with Somerset in pursuit of the Championship, he scored a hundred on a broken ankle in an innings of such class it defied belief. In staving off relegation in 2017 on a turning pitch with Somerset under the most intense relegation pressure he produced another.

He was dropped twice here, once before he had scored, but that was just part of the picture of an innings grafted with skill, grit and not a little artistry on an early season pitch giving considerable help to the seamers. He played and missed more times than was comfortable but so did any batsman who stayed long on this pitch. 111 not out at the close. If Somerset win this match they will have much to thank James Hildreth for.

It was a different sort of day at the cricket for me. I had arranged to meet an old schoolfriend I had not seen since 1975. As is the way with these things, at least with me, we had arranged to meet at the cricket but not where at the cricket and I had omitted to put his newly acquired phone number into my phone. I sat on the terrace of the Somerset Pavilion hoping he might have put my number in his phone. Then I noticed a message on my phone announcing he was in the ground. I rang the number and the person sitting in front of me answered.

As is also the way with these things we picked up where we had left off all those years ago as if the years had never happened. They had happened of course and had to be filled in. I imagine the two hour rain break with which the day started passed rather more quickly for us than it did for most. Two lives related in two hours. Including the Somerset matches we had both been at over the years without either being aware of the other’s presence. Most recently last season at the pink ball match at Southampton and the Essex match at Chelmsford. We will not be at matches together again without knowing it.

And so to the cricket. With the onset of the afternoon the rain, Dickensian light and a kaleidoscope of umbrellas which had marked the morning gave way to a sun which threatened to scorch. It was as if the weather had decided to remind us of what Championship cricket on a high summer day was like. We moved to the Ondaatje Stand to catch the sun. “This weather is just ideal for watching cricket,” my friend said. And it was.

Worcestershire started, 49 behind, in summery fashion, attacking the ball, making progress and closing the gap on the Somerset innings. Somerset made progress too. Tongue edged, Trescothick dived long and low, didn’t take the ball and stayed down for a while. A sign, I always think, that perhaps a catch went down. It didn’t matter. Abell, diving low and forward, took the catch offered off the next ball.

Then Barnard, after an impressive 50, shaped a late cut to Overton. “Too late,” someone said as the stumps rattled and Worcestershire were out for 179. Somerset’s lead 23. More like the Championship scores, my memory recalls, from the days in the 1950s when my friend and I started watching Somerset than are common today.

Somerset started the work of building a lead which would deny Worcestershire with edged drives, one from Byrom, the other from Renshaw. They were both hard driven and, as far as you can tell from square, off wide balls. Both ended up safely in the hands of Fell at slip and Somerset were 11 for 2. A lead of just 34.

Hildreth joined Trescothick. My friend and I discussed Hildreth’s reputation for inconsistency. I pointed out he has a First Class average of over 40 and over 40 centuries. He promptly edged to slip and was dropped. 11 for 3 avoided. Then the other side of the ‘inconsistency’. A late cut of perfection to gasps from the crowd. It was as if the cricketing gods had decreed that the catch should go down so that we could see a thing of such beauty.

There followed a partnership of 64 in which Trescothick played an innings of 43 which would have, had the sun not come out, lightened the darkness on its own. A square cut to the Caddick Pavilion sizzled. Off Magoffin, sometimes his nemesis, he showed that Renshaw is not the only player in this side who can straight drive and, for good measure, added an on drive of equal quality. He was out trying to uppercut a short ball from Tongue, perhaps trying to withdraw the bat. He and Hildreth had stretched the lead to nearly 100.

By now my friend and I were on to non-cricketing interests, the theatre in particular, to discover that over the years we had seen a number of the same productions. The law of coincidence being what it is we had probably been in the same theatre on the same night on more than one occasion. Then Hildreth pulled to the Somerset Stand boundary and it was Tea with Somerset 107 for 3, a lead of 130. Not comfortable, we agreed, but, with seven wickets standing it was moving in that direction.

After Tea Hildreth and Abell continued to build the lead. Hildreth playing and missing, cutting and driving, his score mounting. Abell, driving in particular, played with his usual correctness and power, a square drive to the Caddick Pavilion off Leach standing out. At 136 for 3 Hildreth edged Magoffin to slip who put it down.

One of the things about catching up on 43 years while trying to watch the cricket is you miss the odd thing. Sometimes you miss a year, sometimes you miss a wicket. I missed Abell’s. He had made 27, a middling sort of score on this pitch. I half missed Davies’ too. I heard the appeal and looked up in time to see the umpire’s finger go up, Davies standing somewhere between forward and back. I did see Lewis Gregory fatally top edging the ever persistent and effective Barnard without scoring and Somerset had gone from 145 for 3 to 153 for 6. A lead of 176. Certainly not comfortable now.

Taking the match away. James Hildreth during his second innings century. Photo courtesy Michael Williams

Craig Overton joined Hildreth having been out for a duck in the first innings to Barnard. Now he drove him through cover for four. The Worcestershire bowlers stuck to their task and Somerset, briefly, started to tread water, the ball apparently reluctant to leave the square. But you don’t tread water for long with Overton and Hildreth at the wicket. Overton hit Barnard through mid wicket to the Ondaatje Stand and Hildreth clipped Leach to the Somerset Pavilion and pulled him to the old Stragglers boundary. Overton drove to the Trescothick Stand boundary and then over the same boundary for six.

Overton was bowled by Magoffin for 22 but he and Hildreth had taken the lead to 229 which, provided the pitch does not flatten, would challenge Worcestershire if the Somerset bowlers find the correct line and length. Davey played an innings of 12 which, whilst he was there, looked more assured than I have seen him with the bat.

Jack Leach joined Hildreth, now inching towards his century. My friend had been anxiously looking at his watch for he had a train to catch having come from afar. As is the way with trains my friend’s would not wait for Hildreth to reach his century and so he departed the arena with fingers crossed. So I imagine did Leach for a ball from Barnard crashed into his stumps with Hildreth on 99 and only Groenewald to bat. It took Barnard to his second five wicket haul of the match to add to his fifty in Worcestershire’s innings.

Groenewald knows what to do at number eleven but he was probably glad the edge he got was thick enough to evade the slips and find the Trescothick Stand boundary. Hildreth took the hint and uppercut Tongue to the Ondaatje boundary and found himself on 103. The applause was warm and extended. Before bad light ended play a few overs early Hildreth had cover driven and pulled for two more fours to end on 111 not out. Somerset 255 for 9. A lead of 278 and day on the edge of the seat to follow.

I sent a text to my friend with the news. It was superfluous. He already knew. He had watched the whole thing on his phone. Now you couldn’t have done that in 1975. I really must keep up.

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‘Farmer White’ Somerset Cricket Writing

The purpose of this website is to provide a location where the collected cricket writing of ‘Farmer White’, most of which is published on diverse ‘threads’ on grockles.com, an independent Somerset cricket website, can be accessed and read in one location.

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Match reports on every day of Championship cricket in 2018 are now in place. August.

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‘Farmer White’

17th March 2019

‘Farmer White’

‘Farmer White’, the author of this site, was brought up on the story of one of Somerset’s greatest cricketers, JC ‘Farmer’ White; of how his slow left arm bowling was the epitome of accuracy and that he captained England.

An indelible impression was made and, as indelible impressions do, it has remained with him.

When, at the end of the 2016 season, he began to post reports and occasional articles and poems on threads on grockles.com and needed a posting name ‘Farmer White’ was the natural choice.

JC ‘Farmer’ White 1891-1961

JC ‘Jack’ or ‘Farmer’ White played for Somerset CCC from 1907-37. He captained the side from 1927-31.

He remains the County’s leading First Class wicket taker with 2167 at an average of 18.02. He took 100 First Class wickets in a season 14 times.

With the bat he scored six centuries and scored 1000 runs in a season twice.

He took 381 catches.

He played in 15 Tests for England and captained England four times.

In the 1928-9 Ashes series he was England’s top wicket taker with 25.

In the Adelaide Test he took 13 for 256 in 124.5 overs and England won by 12 runs.

‘FARMER WHITE’ ON CRICKET

To locate the post in which a quote appears click the post title located immediately beneath the quote.

“And then, as at the end of the last match of every season, there was the reluctance of many to leave their seats as they watched, across an empty outfield, the memories of the season past. Better memories for Somerset supporters than for Nottinghamshire ones this year.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 3 26th Sep 2018“Winter well”

“Those modes of dismissal summed up the different characters of the bowling of Overton and Gregory. The one seemingly forcing his way through defences to snatch wickets. The other quietly purloining them from unwary batsmen.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 2 25th Sep 2018Business end

“This was Hildreth at his glorious, apparently carefree, but doubtless intensely focused best. As the clouds gathered in they might have been the chariots of gods come to see who was creating such perfection in the imperfect world below.”Notts v Som CC1 Day 1 24th Sep 2018Of genius and the sublime

“Somerset 4 for 2. And then Hildreth. Hildreth did what Hildreth does. An on driven boundary of perfection off his first ball.”
Som v Surrey CC1 Day 3 20 Sep 2018Fighting hard

“They be too good for we,” the comment from across the aisle. There was perhaps more truth in that than even the speaker, who I find to be perceptively knowledgeable about cricket, realised.”
Som v Surrey CC1 Day 2 19 Sep 2018Somerset under the weather

“Somerset in the field were exemplified by Abell at cover. I lost count of the number of times a ball flew off the bat with ‘four’ written all over it only to find itself snared by Abell’s electrifying dives.”Som v Surrey CC1 Day 1 18 Sep 2018Surrey on the road

“If momentum means anything we have a chance,” someone said, and Somerset had picked up momentum at the end of the Sussex innings as fast as the Bungee Blast was shooting people into the air. Whether Somerset could turn the match on its head as the bungee did its rotating victims was another matter.”
Som v Sussex T20 SF 15 Sep 2018 All Wright on the night

“When you are at a match and a Test-class fast bowler gets it right at pace and settles into a wicket-taking rhythm in helpful conditions on a helpful pitch it is as if a force of nature has been unleashed on the batsmen.”
Hants v Som CC1 Day 2 11 Sep 2018A test of class

“On the way back to the car my white wyvern hat attracted another Somerset supporter. It does that. “38 for 3 the last I heard,” he said, “What is going on?” “It’s worse than that,” I replied, “we were 72 for 5 at Lunch.” It was worse than that. “Not us. Them,” he replied. “They are 38 for 3. We were 106 all out.”
Hants v Som CC1 Day 1 10 Sep 2018Seam from a distance

“I don’t know how much apprehension a human being is supplied with at birth but I have used up enough to fill one of those super tankers that are so difficult to to turn around just watching Somerset.”
Som v Lancs CC1 Day 2 5 Sep 2018Four days tied up in two

“After Lunch, Leach got to work. He started to pick away at the batsmen like an examiner picks away at students who have not done their revision.”
Som v Lancs CC1 Day 1 4 Sep 201822 wickets and 298 runs in Stygian Gloom

“To see one Overton in full flow is a sight worth the seeing. To see both in full flow and in tandem is a sight to treasure.”Yorks v Som CC1 Day 4 1 Sep 2018Yorkshire outpaced

“The Yorkshire crowd cannot be faulted for its impartiality when judging the cricket. Even a loud lbw appeal against Hildreth playing well forward met with the response, “No. Thee can’t gi’ that. He’s too far forrard.”Yorks v Som CC1 Day 3 31 Aug 2018Perfect day

“The comments of opposition supporters, as a match unfolds, sit on the opposite end of the emotional seesaw to where your own feelings sit. At Headingley the frequency of the comments keeps the seesaw constantly in motion.”
Yorks v Som CC1 Day 2 30 Aug 2018Not too bad a day

“The gentlest of gentle bat movements produced rocket like power in the ball as it skimmed the outfield and crossed the boundary directly in front of me. “Just look at that,” another Yorkshire voice drooled.”
Yorks v Som CC1 Day 1 29 Aug 2018Cavalcade

“It was as if the Gillette Cup had passed through a time warp and come to visit. The atmosphere had the feel of those days again. And the match had the feel of the great cup runs of the 70s and 80s.”
Som v Notts T20 QF 27 Aug 2018Gregory’s game

“This was a significant victory not just in the context of this season but in marking the continuing development of what has the potential to become one of the all-time great Somerset teams, perhaps, just perhaps, the greatest of them all.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 4 22 Aug 2018A match for the ages

“The Essex horse was loose in the paddock with no-one apparently able to close the gate other than Leach and it is too big a job for one man.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 3 21 Aug 2018Of stable doors

“Davey has emerged as a genuine front line bowler to be reckoned with this season. No longer a man dependent on April green tops for his wickets. The ball with which he bowled Westley was as good as any you will see.”
Som v Essex CC1 Day 2 20 Aug 2018Bowled over

“The talk at the back of the Somerset Pavilion (elevated) was of Peter Wight. Of Peter Wight and Fred Trueman. Of the day in 1962 when Fred Trueman arrived late for the Championship match at Taunton and was sent home by the Yorkshire captain for his pains.”Som v Essex CC1 Day 1 19 Aug 20181962 all over again

“As I left after the match I spoke to a couple who might have watched Somerset in the 1950s and probably did. Neither of them had ever watched T20 before. “A great match,” they said, “and the fielding is a level above.”
Sur’y v Som T20 S Group 10 Aug 2018A stellar match

“Van de Merwe examined the batsmen with the accuracy of a dentist probing with a drill. He imposed the same disinclination to make any rash movements on the batsmen as a dentist does on a patient.”
Hants v Som T20 S Group 8 Aug 2018A Rye look at the cricket

“The light relented and after Tea out into this frozen wasteland the rules of cricket demanded the players return.”
Som v Yorks CC1 Day 2 29 Apr 2018Somerset’s Arctic expedition

” There is no need to use superlatives because it was a superlative innings full of its own superlatives.”
Som v Yorks CC1 Day 1 28 Apr 2018A century for lunch

I remember watching Basil D’Oliviera play and not just at the end of his career. Now I was watching his grandson. ‘Fugit inreparabile tempus’ as Virgil had it. ‘It escapes, irretrievable time” as the all-knowing internet translates it.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day 3 22 Apr 2018 At last

“One of the things about catching up on 43 years while trying to watch the cricket is you miss the odd thing. Sometimes you miss a year, sometimes you miss a wicket. I missed Abell’s.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day2 21 Apr 2018Hildreth takes it away

“The first day of Somerset’s 2018 season. It started disastrously. The patisserie on Paddington Station where I used to start my journeys to Taunton during the years of my eastern exile had gone.”
Som v Worcs CC1 Day 1 20 Apr 2018Renshaw drives hard